Strip handling



Dec. 10, 1963 Original Filed June 17, 1959 R. w. HRR

STRIP HANDLING 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. RIU/M0# l/[RR BY WMM/fw De. l0, 1963 R. w. HERR 3,113,741

STRIP HANDLING Original Filed June 1'7, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n o N &

l [Il .ll

vm EN INVENTOR. @l0/.mo hi lli/P1? (for-ey 5' United States Patent Otllice allait-l Patented Dec. lll, i953 The present invention relates to strip handling, more particularly to methods of and apparatus for handling strip material during processing thereof, and the principal object of the invention is to provide new and improved methods and apparatus of the character described. This application is a division of application Serial Number 821,037, tiled lune i7, 1959, `entitled Strip Handling, now Patent No. 3,633,926, and assigned to the same assignee as the present case.

ln certain strip processing operations, for example, operations wherein pieces are successively blanked from longitudinally spaced strip portions, it is highly desirable from the stand point of scrap reduction that such pieces be blanked from closely spaced successive strip portions. `when certain irregularly shaped pieces are being blanked, it is common practise to `orient successive pieces in opposite directions to thus reduce scrap losses. rlhis is cornmonly done by employing la blanlring die which simultaneously blanks two closely spaced pieces from the strip, such pieces facing in opposite directions as will be apparent. The strip is then advanced so that the next two pieces are blanl ed from la strip por-tion closely spaced from that portion from which the preceding pieces were blanked.

The foregoing prior art solution to the problem is satisfactory for many purposes; however, it has a disadvantage which at times assumes economic consequences of great importance. The prior art solution requires that two blanking dies, or a double blanlting die, be employed since Itwo pieces facing in Opposite directions must be simultaneously blanked from the strip. The necessity for two dies, or a `double die, substantially doubles die costs and since the price of even a simple, single die frequently amounts to several thousand dollars, it will readily be apparent that die costs are considerable.

When long production runs are contemplated, the doubled initial die costs are not of great importance since die life will be `doubled over that or a single die and therefore overall dies costs, per piece made, will not be increased. When, however, production runs are limited so that a ydie will be used for only a fraction of its potential useful life, an entirely different situation is presented. ln such case, `die li e is not a factor and therefore doubled initial ydie costs spread over a limited number of pieces is an important actor.

rEhe present invention provides methods for the economical high-speed processing of strip material without duplication of costly components whose costs must be spread over relatively short production runs. Other `advantages will readily become apparent from a study of the following description and from the drawings appended hereto.

in the dnawings accompanying this speciiicatioin and forming a part of this application there is shown, for purpose of illustration, an embodiment which the invention many assume, and in these drawings:

FIGURE l is a side elevational view of a strip processing line embodying the present invention and illustrated in `one phase of operation,

FIGURE 2 is la top plan View of the line seen in FIG- URE l,

FlGURE 3 is la View similar to FIGURE l but showing the line in another phase of operation,

FlG-URES 4 and 5 are fragmentary plan views of the material presently being processed but taken at different phases ot the processini7 operation,

FEGURE `6 is an enlarged perspective view of an article presently being made by the instant invention, and

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FlGURE 6 but fragmentariiy showing a length of material from which the article seen in FlGURE 6 has been formed.

Referring first to FIGURES 6 and 7, this invention presently contemplates the blanliing of members M from strip material S. Although not a part of the present invention,

4members M are subsequently adapted to be assembled into electrical components. In order to improve the electrical efhciency of the components of which members will become a part, the strip S is formed of a special metal which is quite expensive. Accordingly, the necessity of limiting scrap by obtaining as many pieces M from the strip as possible will be obvious.

Since members M are generally pie-shaped, it will be understood that scrap will be minimized if adjoining pieces are blanlted from the strip oriented in opposite directions as seen in FLGURE 5. The method of and apparatus for so blanking the pieces from the strip by the use of but a single blanlting die forms the subject matter of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGURE l, there is shown a reel 10 for rotatably supporting :a coil of strip S. This reel may be of conventional form wherein fa rotatable, expansibleconti'actable drum ll is inserted within the central aperture of the coil and then expanded to tightly grip the inner periphery :of the latter. A suitable drive motor or the like (not shown) will be provided for rotating drum lll at various speeds. A pivotally mounted arm l2 having a roller .t its free end is biased to engage the periphery of the coil. This arm automatically' adjusts the speed `of the reel drive motor through a rheostat or the like to so con- 4trol the rotational speed of drum il that the strip will be unwound from the coil at a constant linear speed despite he changing size of the coil supported on the drum.

From the reel le, the strip passes in the direction of the arrow between a set of rolls l5 whose rotational speed is controlled by a conventional motor-brake device, not shown, and to a set of feed rolls le. `For a purpose to appear, the strip assumes a loop formation S-l intermediate the rolls 13, lli- Feed rolls le are adapted to be intermittently rotated to feed a predetermined length of strip therebetween by any suitable means; however, at the present time, such rolls are rotated by means of an adjustable stroke fluid cylinder l5 having rdriving connection with the rolls through a suitable arrangement of a rack, gears and clutches. The arrangement presently employed is shown and described in the patent of Richard F. Herr, N niber 2,978,158, issued April 4, 1961, entitled Feed Apparatus; however, any other suitable consrtuction may be employed.

From the feed rolls isi the strip passes in the direction of the arrow through a conventional press lo which carries the blanliing die (not shown) for forming the piece M from the strip. Associated with the press is a register device Il which need not be described in detail since it is a commercially available item. Briey, however, device if] utilizes a photoelectric cell or the like to sense the positien ofthe hole blanked in the strip by the press to determine whether too much or ytoo little strip has been fed. in accordance with a signal sent by the device 17, the feed rolls will then be rotated a slightly greater amount or a lesser amount at their next operating cycle or at a subsequent opportune time to yfeed either a longer or a shorter length of strip, depending upon the correction required, to thus insure the successive pieces will be blanked from the strip at precisely the proper longitudinally spaced-apart places.

From the register device 17, the strip passes between roll sets 18 and i9 which are similar to roll set 13 and whose rotation is also controlled by suitable motor-brake devices. For a purpose to appear, the strip assumes a looy formation S-Z intermediate the roll sets 1h. i9.

Mounting adjacent the stand which supports the roil set 19 are a pair of reeis Zit, 2.2i in side by side, spacedapart relation. These reels are arranged with their axes in parallel relation and are carried by a frame Z2 which is supported at 23 for pivotal movement about an axis extending transversely of the axes of reels 2d, Zi and generally aligned with the direction of strip movement. The rotation of each reel 2d, Z1 is presently controlled by motor-brake units 24, Z5 operably connected with respective reels. Each reel may take the form of a rotatably supported drum; however, as will appear, neither drum need be of the eXpansibie-contractabie type as is the drum 11 of reel 1G.

For a purpose to be disclosed and in the stage of operation seen in FGURES -l and 2, drum 21 will carry a coil of strip material L which will hereinafter be referred to as interliner strip material. The free end of the strip L may be permanently secured to reel 2d since such strip in normal operation will merely be transferred back and forth between the reels Zt) and 21.

Pivotally carried by frame 22 adjacent reels Zit, 2i are arms 2,6, 27 whose free ends are biased to engagement with the outer peripheries of the coiled strip carried by respective reels 2t), 2. Arms 25, 27 function in a manner similar to arm l2 in that each automatically controls the speed of rotation of a respective motor-brake unit 24, 25 in accordance with the size of the coil wound upon a respective reel so that the strip will be wound at constant linear speed despite changes in coil size. For a purpose to appear, a suitable motor unit Z8 is operably connected with the frame 22 for rotating the latter about its pivots 23 from the position seen in FEGURE l Ito the position seen in FIGURE 3 and from the tast mentioned position to that first mentioned.

As previously disclosed, the free end of strip L will be connected to reel for winding thereon. Additionally, the strip S is also adapted to be wound upon reel Ztl following its passage through roll set 19 so that upon rotation of reel 20 in the direction of the arrow, both strip S and strip L will be wound, in alternate layers, upon the reel 2t). Accordingly, the free end of strip S may either be attached to the reel 25B by any suitable means or may, if desired, merely be inserted between the reel and the strip L or between adjoining convolutions of strip L so that slight rotation of the reel will serve to clamp the strip S in position.

Assuming that strips S and L are arranged as seen in FIGURE 1, operation will be as follows: Drum 11 of reel 10 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow to continuously unwind strip `S from the coil supported by reel 11. Roll set 13 will be continuously rotated in a direction to pass strip to the loop S-1 and at a speed to insure that the strip portion intermediate such roll set and the reel l@ will preferably be lightly tensioned.

Press 16 will then operate to blank a piece from the strip whereupon feed rolls 1d will be rotated a predetermined amount, controlled by the register device 17, to feed a predetermined length of strip to the press. During rotation of the feed rolls, roll set l wiil rotate to draw the strip through the press and to pass it to the strip loop S-Z. Upon cessation of rotation of the feed rolls 14 `and while the strip portion adjacent the press is stationary, the press will again operate to blank a piece from the strip. The foregoing feeding and blanlting operations will automatically alternate until all of the strip wound upon reel 1d has been passed through the press.

During the intermittent operation of the press and feed rolls, coiler 2d has been continuously rotated by its motor unit 24 in the direction of the arrow so as to wind both strips S and L thereon in alternate layers. Roll set 19 at this time functions as a brake to maintain a slight tension on the strip portion between such roll set and the coiier Zt?. Additionally, motor-brake unit 25 of coiler 21 also functions as a brake to maintain a tension on the strip L.

Since reels 15D and 2@ operate to continually pass strip while the latter moves but intermittently through the press, the strip loops S-1 and S-Zt thus permit the strip to be 4momentarily fed into the loops at a faster rate than that at which the strip is withdrawn therefrom and to permit the strip to be momentarily withdrawn from the loops at a faster rate than at which it is fed thereinto. Accordingly, each strip loop will alternately increase and decrease in size during line operation.

ft is to be understood that the function of strip L is to separate the windings of `strip S coiled upon reel 2t) so that such windings will not become entangled with each other and thus render diiicuit the subsequent unwinding of the strip S. it will readiiy be apparent that if strip bianited as seen in EiGURES 4 and 7 were wound in a coii without the strip L as a separator, the sharp edges resulting from the blanking operation aforesaid would catch upon one another and thus subsequent unwinding of the coil would likely damage the strip and render further opera-tions thereon diflicult if not impossible.

When all of the strip has been unwound from reel 1d, passed through the press le and wound upon reel Zit, operations will be suspended. At this time, the strip S appears as illustrated in FJGURE 4 with every other piece blanked therefrom, the punched holes remaining in the strip S after this first phase of operation being indicated at A. An operator will now actuate motor 28 to rotate frame 2,2 one hundred eighty degrees about its pivots 23 from the position seen in FGURE l to the posi-tion seen in FiGURE 3. The end of strip S projecting from the coil on reel Zti` will once again be threaded through the rolls t9, 18, register device 17, press 16, feed rolls 14, rolls 13, and such strip end then attached to the reel drum 11.

Reel 21 will now be rotated by its motor 25 in `the direction of the arrow to wind the strip L thereon and to thus cause rotation of reel 2d in the direction of the arrow to unwind both strips S and L therefrom. At this time, motor-brake unit 24 of reel 2@ functions as a brake to maintain a tension on both strips since roll set 19 is at this time being rotated in a direction to feed strip S from the reel 2i) to the strip loop S-Z and thence to the roll set 155. The latter is, during this phase of the operation, functioning as a brake to maintain a tension on strip S as it is being intermittently pulled through the press 16 by the feed rolls 14- which are now feeding from right to left, in the position of parts shown, rather than from left to right, as was the case during the previously described phase of operation. Reel drum 11 will be rotated in the direction of the arrow to wind the strip S thereon while rolls 15 will at this time function as a brake to tension the strip portion between the reel 1@ and the rolls i3. Intermittent the feeding operations of the feed rolls 1rd-, press 15 will, as previously disclosed, operate to blank a piece from the strip S. These pieces will be blanked from the striprS intermediate the places where the blanks were punched from the strip during the first phase of operation. This is clearly illustrated in FIGURE 5 wherein the holes remaining in the strip after the first phase of operation are indicated at A (but oriented in the opposite direction from that seen in FGURE 4 since the strip has been turned side for side by the rotation aforesaid of frame 2,2) and wherein the holes remaining after the second phase of operation are indicated at B.

When all of the strip S has been unwound from reel 2d, passed through the press 1e and wound upon the reel 10, operations will be suspended. The skeletal strip coil on reel `it) will now be removed and scrapped, such removal being facilitated by collapsing reel drum 11, and a fresh coil of strip substituted therefor. Motor 28 will 5 again be operated to rotate frame 22 from the position seen in FIGURE 3 to the position seen in FIGURE 1 whereupon another rst phase of operations may begin as soon as the strip is threaded through the various parts as seen in FIGURE 1.

ln view of the foregoing, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that l have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention and it will also be apparent to those skilled in `the art that the embodiment herein described may be variously changed and modified, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiment is illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

l claim:

1. The method of blanking pieces from strip material which comprises unwinding the material from a coil at a substantially constant rate, intermittently feeding the unwound material to a blanking device, intermittently actuating the blanking device while the -material is at rest thereadjacent to blank a piece therefrom, winding the blanked material into a second coil at a substantially constant rate, simultaneously unwinding a second strip of material from a storage coil and winding it into such second coil to separate adjoining convolutions of the irst mentioned material, simultaneously turning said second coil and said storage coil end-for-end, unwinding the rst and second mentioned materials from the second coil at a substantially constant rate, simultaneously rewinding the second strip of material into the storage coil, intermittently feeding the first mentioned material once again to the blanking device, intermittently actuating the blanking device while the material thereadjacent is at rest to blank a piece therefrom intermediate the places initially blanked, and winding the first mentioned material into a coil at a substantially constant rate following its second passage through the blanking device.

2. The method of blanking pieces from strip material which comprises unwinding the material from a coil and feeding the unwound material to a blanking device, blanking pieces successively from the unwound strip material from longitudinally spaced places therealong as such material passes through the blanking device, winding the rnaterial into a second coil following its passage through the blanking device, unwinding the material from said second coil and feeding it once again to the blanking device, blanking pieces successively from the unwound strip material at places intermediate those previously blanked, and turning the strip material side-for-side prior to the aforesaid second-mentioned feeding thereof.

3. The method of claim 2 `wherein the turning of said `strip material side-for-side is eifectuated by turning said second coil end-for-end.

4. The method of claim 2 and comprising the additional steps of simultaneously winding a second strip of ma-terial into said second coil to separate adjoining convolutions of said first-mentioned strip material and separating said second strip materia-l and said rst-mentioned strip material prior to feeding of the latter once again to said blanking device.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the 'turning of said first-mentioned strip material side-for-side is effectuated by turning said second coil end-for-end.

61. The method of claim 4 and comprising the additional steps of unwinding said second strip material from a storage coil during winding of said second coil and rewinding said second `strip material onto said storage coil during unwinding of said second coil.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein both said storage coil and said second coil are turned end-for-end prior to unwinding of the latter Ito effectuate the foresaid sidefor-side turning of said first-mentioned strip material.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,967 Patterson lan. 7, 1930 2,658,691 Mallory Nov. ilG, 1953 2,658,693 Wolf Nov. 10, 1953 2,758,036 Cyr Aug. 7, 1956 2,837,159 Herr June 3, 1958 2,914,422 Pratt et al. Nov. 24, 1959 21,933,002 Giboney Apr. 19, 1960 2,961,342 Snyder Nov. 22, 1960 

2. THE METHOD OF BLANKING PIECES FROM STRIP MATERIAL WHICH COMPRISES UNWINDING THE MATERIAL FROM A COIL AND FEEDING THE UNWOUND MATERIAL TO A BLANKING DEVICE, BLANKING PIECES SUCCESSIVELY FROM THE UNWOUND STRIP MATERIAL FROM LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PLACES THEREALONG AS SUCH MATERIAL PASSES THROUGH THE BLANKING DEVICE, WINDING THE MATERIAL INTO A SECOND COIL FOLLOWING ITS PASSAGE THROUGH THE BLANKING DEVICE, UNWINDING THE MATERIAL FROM SAID SECOND COIL AND FEEDING IT ONCE AGAIN TO THE BLANKING DEVICE, BLANKING PIECES SUCCESSIVELY FROM THE UNWOUND STRIP MATERIAL AT PLACES INTERMEDIATE THOSE PREVIOUSLY BLANKED, AND TURNING THE STRIP MATERIAL SIDE-FOR-SIDE PRIOR TO THE AFORESAID SECOND-MENTIONED FEEDING THEREOF. 